End of Year Report 2016-17
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Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre
Sharing environmental information in Berkshire and Oxfordshire
01865 815 451 [email protected] www.tverc.org Follow us on Twitter @TVERC1
END OF YEAR REPORT
2016-17
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 1 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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CHAIR’S FOREWORD
2016/17 has been another strong year for TVERC despite the upheaval of office moves and uncertainty regarding the future. The staff have coped incredibly well with the move and the unfortunate drop in quality of the ‘new’ offices at Speedwell House and I would like to extend my thanks for the seamless service they provided during the move.
The number of data searches was at a record level yet again, undoubtedly influenced to a large extent by the high levels of development activity in the counties. Good progress has been made with diversifying TVERC’s income streams with a number of new data products available to our customers, which is good news given the continued squeeze on the finances of our public sector customers.
As we look forward, TVERC is facing another year of uncertainty with the looming prospect of yet another office move on the horizon. Over the course of the coming year we will be looking at the organisational structure to determine how best to ensure that TVERC is as resilient as possible to future changes whilst remaining flexible in order to take advantage of new opportunities.
Dominic Lamb MCIEEM
Countryside Officer, Planning South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 2 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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SUMMARY
There were some staff changes in 2016-17 with Hannah, our admin officer, leaving and being replaced by Kate. We also all moved offices from Eynsham to Oxford city centre which was disruptive but did give us the opportunity to declutter.
We increased our data holdings to 1.9 million species records, in addition to collecting negative records for great crested newts and bats. This data was used to carry out some modelling to understand the potential extent of GCN meta-populations in South Oxfordshire & Vale of White Horse.
We improved the evidence-base by completing the habitat map of Oxfordshire (previously the coverage was only 36%), updating the Ancient Woodland Inventory in West Berkshire and identifying District and City Wildlife Sites in Cherwell and Oxford. We also carried out a review of Green Infrastructure in Bracknell Forest and surveyed 67 Local Wildlife Sites.
We have clarified data-sharing permissions with some key data-providers to enable TVERC to use the species records in the normal business of TVERC without seeking further permission and allow us to publish some of our data as ‘Open Data’ so it is accessible to all and promotes the other data we have available.
We were fortunate to get the help of volunteer surveyors on six Local Wildlife Sites, and 23 office volunteers contributed 223 days of their time to help us with data management. We assisted the Ashmolean Natural History Society of Oxfordshire in its undertaking of a Rare Plants Register in Oxfordshire and provided a bespoke data entry form for swift records for the RSPB Oxford Swift City project. We also provided funding (via TOE2) to support three volunteer recording groups to improve the quality, quantity and/or coverage of biological recording. We ran six training courses to help increase identification skills and surveying techniques, in addition to the two conferences.
We carried out 800 data searches, an increase from the previous year’s 728 and supplied the usual GIS datasets to the local authorities and Environment Agency to enable them to properly consider the natural environment in decision-making. The funding from Natural England ceased on 1st April 2016. We now have income from a range of sources which means we are resilient to this type of sudden change. However, the decision by NE to stop funding LERCs all across the country is very concerning. This decision appears to show a serious misunderstanding of the need for this evidence-base and the legal and policy requirement for them to use it to make decisions.
We ended 2016-17 with a net overspend of £18.8k, which was less of an overspend than we originally forecast and leaves TVERC in a strong position to continue to invest in improving our service and ensuring we are resilient to change.
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 3 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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CONTENTS
1. TVERC team 7
1.1. New admin officer 7
1.2. Structure 8
1.3. Areas of work 8
1.4 Contact details 9
1.5 Geographic Coverage 9
2. TVERC Partners 10
2.1. Organisation 10
2.2. Steering Group 10
2.3 Memorandum of Understanding 10
3. Data Collection and Management 11
3.1. Species records 11
3.2. Datasets 12
3.3 Data Agreements 13
New data agreements: 13
Renewed data agreements: 13
Groups which supplied TVERC with data: 13
Groups/individuals which gave permission for records to be shared publically 14
3.4. Data search Process improvements 14
4. Data Sharing 15
4.1 Data Search Requests 15
4.2 Data Provision to Partners 17
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 4 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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5. Data Analysis & Presentation 17
5.1 Improvements to Evidence-Base 17
West Berks Ancient Woodland Inventory 17
Oxon Habitat Mapping 18
Cherwell District Wildlife Sites & Oxford City Local Sites 18
5.2 Monitoring Change 19
Berks Single Data List 160 for LAs 19
Annual monitoring report for LAs 19
Oxfordshire State of Nature 19
5.3 Data Modelling 19
Great-crested newt meta-populations 19
Green Infrastructure 19
6. Local Wildlife Sites 20
6.1 Highlights from the LWS surveys 20
Oxfordshire 20
Berkshire 20
7. Supporting Recorders and Volunteers 21
7.1 Volunteer Recording Groups 21
Ashmolean Natural History Society of Oxfordshire 21
RSPB Swift City 21
Advice and Support 22
Attendence at Meetings / Conferences 22
Recording Grant 23
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 5 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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7.2 Training, education & sharing information 24
Training Courses in 2016/17 24
Autumn Recorders Conference - Berkshire 24
Spring Recorders Conference - Oxfordshire 25
8. Finance 26
8.1 Finance Summary 26
8.2 Sources of Funding 27
8.3 Income 28
8.4 Expenditure 29
8.5 Reserve 30
Appendix I - LWS Surveys Carried out in 2016 31
Oxfordshire Surveys 31
Cherwell 31
West Oxfordshire 31
Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire 32
Berkshire Surveys 33
RB Windsor & Maidenhead 33
West Berkshire 33
Wokingham 33
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 6 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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1. TVERC TEAM
We are a team of ten people, but as some of us work part-time, this is equivalent to 8.7 full-time staff.
Camilla Burrow, Director - Development and delivery of the TVERC service.
Dan Carpenter, Projects Manager – Delivering services to our local authority partners in Berkshire and Oxfordshire and developing and managing project work.
Graham Hawker and Ellen Lee, Biodiversity Data Services Officers – Data management, analysing and presenting data for commercial customers and project work.
Julie Kerans and Katherine Holmes, Oxfordshire and Berkshire Biodiversity Data Officers - Surveying local wildlife sites with the help of volunteers, analysing and presenting data for project work.
Caroline Coleman, Volunteer Coordinator – Working with TVERC volunteers and recording groups to increase the quality and quantity of wildlife records and build up the volunteer network.
Kate Prudden, Admin Officer - Finance, admin & promotional tasks to ensure the smooth running of a busy office.
Rachael Clemson and Yolanda Vazquez, Biodiversity Data Assistants - Data management, presenting data for commercial customers and project work.
1.1. NEW ADMIN OFFICER
Hannah Boylan left as our Admin Officer in October 2016 to move with her family to the Czech Republic. Kate Prudden started in this role in December 2016. Kate has an applied and research grounding in ecology. She has a 1st class degree in Marine Biology from Liverpool University – completed at the Port Erin Marine Biological Station on the beautiful Isle of Man. She was then employed there for over 3 years as a post-graduate research assistant collecting and analysing commercial fisheries and research vessel data on two local scallop species: Pecten maximus and Aequipecten opercularis. She also had internships and then work with the UK Marine Biological Association in Plymouth. She subsequently worked in a variety of logistics, finance and research project co-ordinator roles mainly within the film production industry and for around 12 years at the Oxford University’s Department of International Development. Prior to joining TVERC Kate was a community wildlife trainee with the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT). She also now works for BBOWT as Oxfordshire Wildlife Sites Project Officer – a role that links neatly back to TVERC who are the project partner. Kate is active in the local wildlife volunteer community including as a Shotover Wildlife committee member and is involved in aspects such as botanical surveying and regular practical conservation work including coppicing and heathland restoration.
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 7 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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1.2. STRUCTURE
The current structure is shown below:
1.3. AREAS OF WORK
The pie chart below illustrates the time spent by the TVERC team on different elements of the TVERC work programme during 2016-17.
Data analysis & 11% presentation projects 25% Service management 14% Data collection & management Local Wildlife Sites 14% project 22% Service development
15% Data provision
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 8 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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1.4 CONTACT DETAILS
TVERC moved office in March to Speedwell House in the centre of Oxford. Our new address is:
Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre http://www.tverc.org c/o Countryside Service, Oxfordshire County Council Speedwell House Follow us on Twitter @TVERC1 Speedwell Street Oxford 01865 815 451 OX1 1NE [email protected]
1.5 GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE
TVERC covers all of Berkshire and Oxfordshire, as shown on the map below.
1 = Cherwell DC 2 = West Berks DC 3 = Oxford City 4 = Vale of White Horse DC 5 = South Oxon DC 6 = West Berks Council 7 = Reading BC 8 = Wokingham BC 9 = RB Windsor and Maidenhead 10 = Bracknell Forest Council 11 = Slough BC
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 9 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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2. TVERC PARTNERS
2.1. ORGANISATION What TVERC does
TVERC is a 'not for profit' organisation covering Berkshire and Oxfordshire. We are run by a partnership and are one of a national network of local records centres. We are a member of the National “We provide our funding Biodiversity Network (NBN) and accredited by the Association of Local partners with annually Records Centres (ALERC). updated species and sites information as GIS tables, Our funding partners include all the local authorities in Oxfordshire & and undertake surveys of Berkshire plus the Environment Agency. We also work closely with the local wildlife sites. We Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust. TVERC is also carry out data hosted by Oxfordshire County Council. analysis for the monitoring of local 2.2. STEERING GROUP authority Local Plans.
TVERC is monitored and directed by a Steering Group, which meets We provide information three times per year. The Steering Group provides strategic guidance to parish councils, local for TVERC helping to set its overall aim, objectives and priorities; people, conservation provides guidance as required to TVERC staff; and ensures that the bodies, land-owners, operational management of the Centre is successful and that it is students and commercial adequately resourced. Annex B of the MoU sets out the Steering organisations such as Group’s Terms of Reference. ecological consultants and utilities companies 2.3 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING via data searches, data One of the requirements of ALERC accreditation is that we set out licensing and data clearly and agree with our funding partners what they can expect from exchanges. us, and what we expect from them. To help meet this requirement, the We provide other services TVERC Partner Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was drawn up. such as ecological This MoU was approved by the TVERC Steering Group in April 2014. surveys, data analysis & presentation and
training.”
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 10 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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3. DATA COLLECTION AND MANAGEMENT
We hold almost 1.9 million records of flora and fauna in Berkshire and Oxfordshire plus information about Local Wildlife and Geological Sites, NERC Act S41 Habitats of Principal Importance (previously called UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) habitats) and Ecological Networks (Conservation Target Areas and Biodiversity Opportunity Areas).
We collect data from the general public, skilled volunteer/amateur recorders, professionals working for wildlife charities (BBOWT and RSPB), professionals working for government agencies (Natural England, the Environment Agency & local authorities) and ecological consultants. The cost to TVERC to collect, check and process data is about 25p per record, which means we prioritise datasets which are recent and include protected & notable species for data management.
3.1. SPECIES RECORDS
We added 174,854 new records to our database in 2016. Our database now includes almost 1.9 million records.
Records Total number of Year added records pre-2004 112,749 112,749 2004 196,194 308,943 2005 24,949 333,892 2006 35,633 369,525 2007 38,497 408,022 2008 48,585 456,607 2009 36,652 493,259 2010 658,759 1,152,018 2011 174,389 1,326,407 2012 39,413 1,365,820 2013 23,503 1,389,323 2014 144,796 1,534,119 2015 177,549 1,711,668 2016 174,854 1,886,522
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 11 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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TVERC Species Records 2,000,000 1,886,522 1,800,000
1,600,000 1,400,000 1,200,000 1,000,000 800,000 600,000 400,000 200,000 0 Total number of records records of number Total pre- 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2004 Year
3.2. DATASETS
360 datasets were acquired by TVERC from individual recorders, recording groups, conservation organisations and environmental consultants and from local authorities either direct or via planning portals during 2016/17. In 2016/17 we concentrated particularly on collecting both positive and negative records of great crested newts and bats because these are essential for data modelling. These are processed and added to our database in accordance with our Data Policies & Procedures document.
In 2016/17 we managed to import or otherwise deal with approximately 48% of all the data sets received in the year and 54% of the high priority data sets within the same financial year. These percentages rise to 83.5% for all data sets and 92% of all high priority data sets for data received in 2015/16 and processed by the end of 2016/17.
We added 322 new datasets into Recorder, plus Local Wildlife Site species data and Ancient Woodland Inventory data. Other large data sets imported include 130,515 Berkshire bird records from Berkshire Bird Clubs (2009-2012), 14,459 Oxfordshire bird records from Oxfordshire Ornithological Society (2006) and over 50,000 records from BBOWT (2015-2016). We have also imported some records arriving via our online website and selected surveys from IRecord.
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 12 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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3.3 DATA AGREEMENTS
Each year, TVERC negotiate with the wide range of recorders and recording groups in Berkshire and Oxfordshire to ensure we can access new data. We have been focussing on negotiating new agreements with key data-providers to give TVERC permission to use data at the highest possible resolution in the normal business of TVERC without seeking further permission either from the individual recorder or recording group. This will allow us to publish some of our data as ‘Open Data’ so it is accessible to all and promotes the other data we have available. For example we are planning to upload species data to the new NBN Living Atlas that is more than 10 years old at 2 km square resolution (where permission has been given from data-owners; which we are actively seeking).
NEW DATA AGREEMENTS: RENEWED DATA AGREEMENTS:
Lower Windrush Valley Project Binfield Badger Group Chiltern Society Martin Harvey and Berkshire Moth Group Fungus Survey of Oxfordshire Weevil and Bark Beetle Recording Scheme BSBI Oxfordshire VC23 High Park
GROUPS WHICH SUPPLIED TVERC WITH DATA: Abingdon Naturalists' Society Fungus Survey of Oxfordshire Ashmolean Natural History Society of Moor Green Lakes Group Oxfordshire People’s Trust for Endangered Species Association of British Fungus Groups River Thame Conservation Trust British Lichen Society
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 13 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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GROUPS/INDIVIDUALS WHICH GAVE PERMISSION FOR RECORDS TO BE SHARED PUBLICALLY Friends of Milham Ford Mick Crawley Judy Webb Nature Park/Judy Webb Steve Gregory LWVP John Lerpeniere Susan Erskine Dick Greenaway Chris Mason Peter Whitton Stuart Mabbutt Adrian Hickman TVFG Jacqueline Wright Reading and District Natural Graham Scholey OUWG History Society Child Beale Wildlife Trust Ivan Wright UK Wild Otter Trust Peter Sheasby Shotover Wildlife John Killick Plantlife Brian Clews ORAG Banbury Ornithological County Ornithological John Melling Society Services Oxford University Bob Eeles Imperial College London Des Sussex
3.4. DATA SEARCH PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS
We have continued to improve our data search processes to automate many of the tasks for extracting and supplying data. We are now spending less time on these tasks, which leaves more time for collating, checking and importing data. We have being preparing for the move to a simpler charging structure for the most commonly requested data searches which won’t require a quote to be issued by TVERC and signed by the requestor which should save even more time and allow requestors to instantly see the cost of their search report. The new online form will also allow us to add more options for requestors for additional datasets (e.g. SSSI risk zones and Ancient Woodland Inventory sites).
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 14 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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4. DATA SHARING
4.1 DATA SEARCH REQUESTS
TVERC carried out 800 data searches in 2016/17. This was an increase from last year when we carried out 728 data searches. This increase is probably due to an increase in the number of planning applications being submitted this year and increased awareness by developers of the necessity of data searches since the publication of BS 42020:2013 Biodiversity. Code of practice for planning and development which states that “local record centres … should be approached initially for species and habitat information to inform desk studies.” and paragraph 165 of the National Planning Policy Framework which states that “planning policies and decisions should be based on up-to-date information about the natural environment and other characteristics of the area”.
Data searches
900 800 800 709 728
700 589 600 500 416 375 400 362 352 350 288 300 200 Number of searches searches of Number 100 0 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 Year
TVERC charges for data searches based on an hourly rate for extracting and presenting the data. The hourly rate includes a contribution towards the annual cost of collating and managing the TVERC database. TVERC waive this charge for data searches for individuals, landowners and conservation organisations where the data will be used solely for conservation purposes. In these cases, a donation is requested, to cover the costs of extracting and presenting the data. We also waive the fee for initial single species & bat searches, so although we carried out 800 data searches, a charge was made for only 632 of these, bringing in a total income of £103,977 for 2016/17. We also signed supplied data to Thames Water under their five year agreement with us.
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 15 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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The types of data searches are shown in the pie charts and tables below.
Contact type No. Ecological Consultant 703 1% Other 65 8% Landowner 17 Community Group 6 Ecological Consultant working for TVERC Partner 4 Member of the Public 3 88% Student/Teacher 2 TOTAL 800
Purpose of data search No. 2% 2% Planning application/development 673 4% Other 68 8% Utility maintenance 28 Education or research 19 Land management 12 TOTAL 800 84%
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 16 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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4.2 DATA PROVISION TO PARTNERS
TVERC provided updated datasets to our partners. These are essential to ensure that our partners comply with planning policy and wildlife legislation and that sound decisions are made about where to focus conservation effort, how best to manage land and where to direct development to minimise impacts on the natural environment.
The updated datasets TVERC provided to partners were:
- Protected & notable species (July 2016 & January 2017) - Buffered protected species & notable (January 2017) - Local Wildlife Sites (May 2016) - Local Geological Sites (May 2016) - UK Priority Habitat (NERC Act S41 Habitats of Principle Importance, previously called UK BAP priority habitat) (January 2017) - Invasive non-native species layer (July 2016, January 2017)
There were no changes to the following datasets: - Conservation Target Areas / Biodiversity Opportunity Areas
5. DATA ANALYSIS & PRESENTATION
TVERC carried out several projects during 2016-17, including carrying out surveys, analysing data and presenting the results in a user-friendly format. The results of these projects will be used by our funders to make sound decisions about where to direct conservation effort, how best to manage land and where to direct development to minimise impacts on the natural environment.
5.1 IMPROVEMENTS TO EVIDENCE-BASE
WEST BERKS ANCIENT WOODLAND INVENTORY
TVERC prepared updated data for the ancient woodland inventory (AWI) in West Berkshire. The updated AWI, mapping the quality, extent and distribution of ancient woodland, will include sites under 2 ha (which were excluded from the original AWI) and provide a robust evidence base to help inform planning decisions, strategic plans and various environmental projects, such as planning for strategic infrastructure, considering planning applications, directing habitat conservation work, climate change adaptation and mitigation and wood-fuel initiatives. The work involves using GIS analysis of modern and historic maps, supported by field work, to assess whether currently wooded sites were likely have been wooded since at least 1600 and subsequently considered to be ancient woodland.
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 17 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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OXON HABITAT MAPPING
Only about 36% of Oxfordshire was covered by habitat mapping (94,000 hectares), this being mainly concentrated on the most important designated sites in the county (primarily Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Local Wildlife Sites), as well as Conservation Target Areas. However, there are still significant gaps in the dataset. The aim of this project is to increase the area that is mapped so that Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) knows where important and protected priority habitats are to inform local planning and development, as well as targeting for wildlife conservation. Undertaking the project will allow OCC to better meet its obligations under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006 and other legislation and policy to protect and enhance the natural environment.
CHERWELL DISTRICT WILDLIFE SITES & OXFORD CITY LOCAL SITES
TVERC carried out a project for Cherwell District Council in 2013, resulting in the identification of 63 sites of potential district importance for wildlife. The purpose in identifying sites of district value is to provide the local authority with additional information to inform the planning process. The study conducted in 2013 was desk-based, using information from local groups and experts alongside TVERC datasets and experience of rejected and/or denotified LWS. Some sites have been surveyed as part of the LWS process or are under the management of organisations with conservation objectives. However, some sites have never been visited, or have not had recent surveys. There is therefore a requirement to confirm through ground- truthing that the listed sites are of district importance. TVERC will produce individual reports for up to five sites considered to be of district value, evaluating each against the current criteria for LWS selection and commenting on their potential district importance. TVERC will also produce a draft set of criteria.
Oxford City would like TVERC to establish criteria for selecting city wildlife sites (SLINCs), as well as carrying out some survey work of the proposed sites. This work will be staged over two years, with criteria development to be carried out in year 1 followed by survey work in year 2.
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 18 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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5.2 MONITORING CHANGE
BERKS SINGLE DATA LIST 160 FOR LAS
TVERC provide an analysis of the SDL 160 for each of the Berkshire unitaries. Site management data is collated to calculate the number of local sites that are in positive management for the 6 Unitary Authorities. Local authorities are required to report to DEFRA on the SDL 160 each year as a measure of their success of protecting the biodiversity in their area.
ANNUAL MONITORING REPORT FOR LAS
TVERC analyse environmental data and produce an annual monitoring report to Local Authorities in Berkshire and Oxfordshire. The AMR reports on a number of environmental indicators that help to monitor biodiversity within their district. Currently there are 7 possible indicators that they can choose from. This includes, changes to Local Wildlife Sites, Priority habitat and Priority Species, the status and distribution of water vole or farmland birds, SSSI condition and non agri-schemes habitat creation and management.
OXFORDSHIRE STATE OF NATURE
Wild Oxfordshire is leading a project to prepare a State of Nature report for Oxfordshire. TVERC is assisting by providing additional data, analysis, mapping and checking of the draft report.
5.3 DATA MODELLING
GREAT-CRESTED NEWT META-POPULATIONS
This is a project to map and survey ponds for the presence of GCN and then to carry out some modelling to understand the potential extent of GCN meta-populations in South Oxfordshire & Vale of White Horse.
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Bracknell Forest Council have asked TVERC to quote to carry out a review of GI in the borough and to identify deficits and opportunities for GI provision, as part of the new comprehensive local plan.
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 19 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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6. LOCAL WILDLIFE SITES
Local Wildlife Site surveys are one of the core services that TVERC continues to provide across the two counties for the majority of the Local Authorities. We carried out a total of 67 LWS surveys in 2016/17. Thanks to the help of our volunteers, specialist species group surveys were completed on several sites for birds, invertebrates and rare plants. Survey reports were produced and taken to the site selection panel. The full detail of these is in appendix I.
6.1 HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE LWS SURVEYS
OXFORDSHIRE
Sites surveyed include Bagley Wood, an ancient woodland to the South West of Oxford, where species seen included early purple-orchid, goldilocks buttercup, wood sorrel and moschatel. This woodland has records for a large number of species typical of older woodland, 43 of which were recorded during this year. We also visited a farm north west of Oxford that is managed sympathetically for wildlife. Arable land here includes a wide range of arable weeds including several rare species.
In July, we visited a chalk grassland site north of Lambourn in the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It included a good range of calcareous grassland species with fragrant orchid, common twayblade and yellow-wort. Balscot Quarry is a Banbury Ornithological Society reserve that provides habitat for a range of birds including breeding Lapwing and Little Ringed Plover. Less common plant species found here included fern grass. Another highlight were the Green-winged Orchids putting on a good display, with over 200 counted, at a site near Leafield in West Oxfordshire.
BERKSHIRE
Sites included ancient woodlands carpeted in bluebells, floodplain meadows with beautiful wildflowers and a wide selection of sedges and rushes and remnant heathland and acid grassland hidden amongst urban sprawl. Many sites were clearly loved and well cared-for by private landowners and the public alike.
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 20 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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7. SUPPORTING RECORDERS AND VOLUNTEERS
TVERC are fortunate to get the help of volunteers to carry out some data processing, species recording and site surveys. In 2016/17, volunteers carried out seven days of specialist surveys on six Local Wildlife Sites. We also rely on help from volunteers to manage and input data into our database. In 2016/17, twenty- three office volunteers carried out 223 days of data management. If this work had been carried out by paid staff, it would have cost TVERC almost £23k1.
7.1 VOLUNTEER RECORDING GROUPS
Much of the data in the TVERC database comes from volunteer recorders and so supporting them is an essential part of the work TVERC carry out. We provide technical support for recording groups who are collecting and analysing data across Oxfordshire and Berkshire. In 2016/17, TVERC provided assistance to:
ASHMOLEAN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF OXFORDSHIRE
TVERC has been supporting the work of the Ashmolean Natural History Society of Oxfordshire in its undertaking of a Rare Plants Register in Oxfordshire. Records have been collected by recorders over the last few years and the results have been processed and analysed by TVERC. Funding has been provided to TVERC to generate distribution maps of species which will be included within the register. The results of the mapping (and associated species narratives) will be included within a future on-line publication.
RSPB SWIFT CITY
RSPB are proposing to establish a swift city in Oxford. They will recruit and train volunteers to carry out surveys for swift nesting sites and to survey for foraging swifts, as well as install swift nesting boxes on existing and new buildings. They will also hold swift walks and talks and arts competitions. They also plan to build a swift tower. TVERC will provide a bespoke data entry form for swift records and analyse and present the swift data for partners and other local organisations.
1 An equivalent paid job would be £17k per annum, the 'on-costs' increase that to £21,400. That is equivalent to a daily rate of £100 (assuming 215 working days in the year) and hourly rate of £13.50
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 21 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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ADVICE AND SUPPORT
Oxford Ornithological Society (advice on data recording) Wychwood Flora Group (advice on data sharing) Freshwater Habitats Trust (took part in Advisory group meeting) Lower Windrush Valley Project (equipment loan) Bracknell Forest Veteran Tree Survey (TVERC online recording) Friends of the Trap Grounds (TVERC online recording) Imperial College (Silwood Park) (TVERC online recording)
ATTENDENCE AT MEETINGS / CONFERENCES
Our Volunteer Coordinator attended the following recording group meetings:
Butterfly Conservation (attended conference) Theale Area Bird Conservation Group National Plant Monitoring Scheme (took part (attended meeting) in stakeholder workshop) Wild Maidenhead (attended meeting) Oxfordshire Mammal Group (attended Lower Windrush Garden Club (spoke at meeting) meeting) Earley Environmental Group (spoke at Watlington Environment Group (spoke at meeting) meeting) Watlington Environment Group (spoke at Benson Nature Group (spoke at meeting) meeting) Child Beale Trust (attended meeting)
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 22 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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RECORDING GRANT
At the beginning of 2016, we reinstated our Recorders Grant Scheme to support projects that improve the quality, quantity and/or coverage of voluntary species recording in Berkshire and Oxfordshire. The fund if administered by Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment (TOE2). Applications may be standalone grants to support better recording or they may be linked to a larger biodiversity application to TOE2 (www.trustforoxfordshire.org.uk). In 2016/17 we funded the following projects:
Moth Trapping in Oxon, Butterfly Conservation £750
The main purpose of this project is to loan traps to individuals who usually would not have access to them. We aim to loan mains operated skinner traps, with one pair of protective UV glasses and ID book, for an initial term of a month with a further five months’ loan available to interested individuals.
GPS equipment for River Thame Conservation Trust £400
The River Thame Conservation Trust is a grassroots environmental organisation working towards a river catchment with healthy fresh waters and wildlife, more resilient biodiversity for the future and valued and enjoyed by local people. As part of the project submitted for TOE2 funding and our other survey work being carried out by trained volunteers and our own staff in the Lower Thame in the next three years, a range of survey and monitoring activities will be taking place. To improve accuracy and efficiency of our survey and monitoring we want to purchase a handheld GPS with detailed OS mapping accuracy.
High Park Biodiversity survey, Blenheim £750
High Park, a section of Blenheim Park near Woodstock in Oxfordshire, was recently found to be the primary site in England (and by extension, all of Europe) for large ancient oak trees. This proposal aims to address this shortfall in our knowledge and understanding of High Park and to make an attempt to fill in the gaps where feasible. This project will be heavily dependent on volunteer participation. We are seeking mostly locally based (Oxfordshire) recorders with specialist knowledge and experience in recording for their organisms of interest. Field work will have to be coordinated and managed in close consultation with the Blenheim Estate management. Despite the voluntarism inherent in this survey proposal, it may become desirable or even necessary to be able to recompense reasonable expenses, such as travel. It is highly important for recorders to persist in their efforts and accumulating costs may become a disincentive to continue till the survey is completed. It may also be necessary to pay for some assistance from specialists with identification.
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 23 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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7.2 TRAINING, EDUCATION & SHARING INFORMATION
TRAINING COURSES IN 2016/17
To help increase identification skills, surveying techniques and encourage wildlife recording within Berkshire and Oxfordshire through running a number of day training courses on a wide range of species and habitats. In 2016 these include courses on otters, water vole surveying, bumblebee ID, winter tree ID, woodland plant and grass ID.
Working with other wildlife organisations, TVERC organise a local Recorders Conference to share information amongst volunteer recorders and increase their knowledge so they can provide us with even better data. We also provide training courses and talks to local groups.
AUTUMN RECORDERS CONFERENCE - BERKSHIRE
Our autumn conference was held in October, generously hosted again by Oracle Corporation at its offices in Reading. Opening the conference, Dr David Roy, Head of the Biological Records Centre at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology told the audience how biological recording can be used to monitor change and discussed future challenges. The crucial role that volunteers can have in recording was demonstrated through a fascinating description of BBOWT’S Linking the Landscape project in West Berkshire, described by Roger Stace. Hannah Worker explained how the Freshwater Habitats Trust has mobilised volunteers nationally to monitor and protect freshwater habitats including ponds. Keiron Brown also gave a characteristically enthusiastic talk about FSC’s BioLinks project, which aims to fill gaps in biological recording. The conference provided an opportunity for recorders from across Berkshire and Oxfordshire to meet, exchange news and learn from one another. Short speed updates, as usual, gave groups a chance to update others and we were pleased to hear from Isobel Collyer about new developments for the Berkshire Local Nature Partnership. During the afternoon, those who chose to get a breath of fresh air, joined Dr Dan Carpenter to explore how to value landscapes or Dr Alastair Driver for a walk around the wetlands at Thames Valley Park. Others opted for a workshop run by TVERC’s data team which demystified how to use the online recording website. Once again, we enjoyed a fascinating day of talks, conversation and networking.
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 24 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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SPRING RECORDERS CONFERENCE - OXFORDSHIRE
The 2017 Spring Recorders’ Conference took place on 4th March 2017 in Wallingford and was attended by 58 people. The event was themed around “Wildlife Restoration”. Speakers included Lisa Lane, who shared her experience restoring meadows at Chimney Meadows which showed that the techniques used can be successful even on arable land. This was followed later in the day by a thought-provoking talk on water vole reintroductions by Merryl Gelling. Throughout the day there were sessions for short speed updates from local recording groups – a total of 21 – covering news updates, calls for volunteers and interesting species. The afternoon included a choice from four workshops covering swifts, hedgerows, social media and participatory mapping. The day included plenty of time for speed updates, networking over lunch and refreshment breaks and to look around the many displays brought by local and national groups. It was interesting that many of the speed updates and displays were looking for volunteer help with surveys or other activities. We are looking into whether we could help support this ‘volunteer exchange’ through our website.
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 25 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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8. FINANCE
8.1 FINANCE SUMMARY
In comparison with last year, the income from data searches has increased whilst the income from licences has been stable. The income from projects was a total of £59k which was below the target of £65k; however our Projects Manager has been focusing on new income streams which should increase income over the coming years.
The funding from Natural England ceased on 1st April 2016. We now have income from a range of sources which means we are resilient to this type of sudden change. However, the decision by NE to stop funding LERCs all across the country is very concerning. This decision appears to show a serious misunderstanding of the need for this evidence-base and the legal and policy requirement for them to use it to make decisions.
The biggest expenditure is on staff salaries. However, staff time is also the biggest asset TVERC has, as it’s the staff time spent on projects, data searches and data licences which bring in the income. Staff expenditure increased this year due to planned extra expenditure on an additional Data Assistant (to cover the increase in data search requests) and a Volunteer Co-ordinator (to provide better support to our volunteer recorders and office volunteers).
We ended 2016-17 with a net overspend of £18.8k, which was less of an overspend than we originally forecast and leaves TVERC in a strong position to continue to invest in improving our service and ensuring we are resilient to change.
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 26 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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8.2 SOURCES OF FUNDING
TVERC has a variety of customers, as shown in the table and pie chart below. In 2016/17 the majority of our income came from local authorities and ecological consultants (working on behalf of developers).
TVERC Customers Amount Percentage Local authority (incl. contractors) £171,181 56% Ecological consultant £91,370 30% Environment Agency £17,280 6% Other £8,448 3% Utilities company £5,000 2% Individual recorder / recording group £3,267 1% Landowner £3,170 1% Conservation charity £1,050 0.3% Community / Parish Group £950 0.3% Natural England £825 0.3% Member of the public £390 0.1% Student/Teacher £260 0.1% Income total £303,190
0.3% TVERC Customers 2016-17 0.3% 0.3% 1% Local authority (incl. contractors) 0.1% 2% 1% Ecological consultant 0.1% 3% Environment Agency Other 6% Utilities company Individual recorder Landowner Conservation charity 30% 56% Community / Parish Group Natural England Member of the public Student/Teacher
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 27 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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8.3 INCOME
The table and bar chart below illustrates the income for this financial year, compared with previous years.
2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 Income type Local authorities SLA £115,720 £115,038 £115,038 Environment Agency & Natural England SLA £30,613 £22,835 £17,280 Commercial data searches £82,520 £85,914 £103,977 Commercial data licences £7,596 £5,600 £5,700 Projects - LA funded £62,865 £44,361 £55,523 Projects - NE / EA funded £21,298 £6,115 £825 Projects - other funded £4,158 £6,983 £3,642 Donations £2,043 £895 £1,205 Income total £326,813 £287,741 £303,190
£120,000 TVERC Income 2014-2017
£100,000 2014-15 2015-16 £80,000 2016-17 £60,000
£40,000 Income (£) Income £20,000
£0
SLA Local funded Donations authorities Projects - AgencySLA EA funded Projects - LA Commercial Commercial Environment Type datalicences other funded datasearches Projects - NE /
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 28 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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8.4 EXPENDITURE
2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 Expenditure type Staff (salaries, expenses, training) £240,470 £246,318 £283,772 Contractors & project expenses £15,810 £3,105 £852 Overheads (equipment, printing, postage, subscriptions) £5,384 £2,829 £3,636 Premises (paid 'in kind' by OCC) £16,500 £16,500 £16,500 Recorders Conference £1,654 £905 £3,321 Investment in service (data tools, website etc) £1,771 £10,465 £13,948 Expenditure total £281,588 £280,122 £322,029 NET TOTAL £45,225 £7,619 -£18,839
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 29 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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8.5 RESERVE
Due to Oxon CC accounting rules, the Business account must balance to £0 at the end of each financial year, but ‘surplus’ monies or deficits can be moved into or out of a Balancing account. Any underspend or overspend at the end of each financial year is moved into or out of the Balancing account. The TVERC Reserve is also kept in the Balancing account.
The TVERC Reserve is held for unforeseen circumstances and to cover any redundancy liabilities plus two months running costs. The running costs should comprise of staff costs and overheads (e.g. salaries, expenses, training, equipment, printing, postage, subscriptions). The Reserve would allow TVERC to move to a different host organisation or become independent should the need arise.
Reserve at start 2016/17 £247,874 Take out Oxon Habitats Mapping* £25,800 Take out balancing figure** £18,839 Total Reserve at beginning 2017/18 (1st April 2017) £203,234
Allocated Reserve for future years Thames Water data licence 2017/18 and 2018/19 and 2019/20 £15,750.00 Redundancy costs £45,269 3 months running costs £82,718 Balancing figure for 2017/18 £16,276 Investment in service 2017-2021 £43,221 Unallocated £ in Reserve at 1st April 2017 £0
* Money Received In Advance. E.g. project money which was received in one year but will be spent in the following year, so had to be held in the balancing account.
** Money to be put in or taken out of Balancing Account to ensure Business Account equals zero.
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 30 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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APPENDIX I - LWS SURVEYS CARRIED OUT IN 2016
Panel decision Meaning Retain Existing LWS resurveyed and designation as LWS confirmed Accept Proposed LWS surveyed and designated as LWS Deselect Existing LWS resurveyed and de-designated as LWS Reject Proposed LWS surveyed and not designated as LWS Deferred Insufficient information to make decision e.g. further surveys required.
OXFORDSHIRE SURVEYS
CHERWELL Site name Site code Panel decision Shenlow Hill 34L06 Retain Balscote Quarry 34U01 Retain Meadow west of Bestmoor 43V02/3 Defer Fishponds Wood, Hanwell 44L01 Defer Berryfield Farm 33G02 Retain RSPB Otmoor 51R11 Accept Hedgerow between Little Wood and 61I01 Accept Piddington Wood 61I01 Retain Piddington Wood extension 61I01 Accept Wildflower meadow at Bodicote House n/a Reject Bicester Airfield—Skimmingdish Lane 52X10 Reject
WEST OXFORDSHIRE Site name Site code Panel decision Shilton Bradwell Grove Airfield 20N01 Retain Shilton Bradwell Grove Airfield (ext) 20N01 Accept Dunster Meadow 30W01 Retain Bank north of Fordwells 31C01 Retain Bank north of Fordwells (ext) 31C01 Accept Langland Farm Meadows, Finstock 31T04 Retain Glympton Valley 41J14 Retain South Freelands Meadow 41F01 Retain South Freelands Meadow (ext) 41F01 Accept part
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 31 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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VALE OF WHITE HORSE AND SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE Site name Site code Panel decision Lowerhill Farm Wood 59W08 Deferred Wroxhills Wood 68A09 Retain Old Elvendon, Park and Griggs Woods 68F03 Retain Dean Wood 68G03 Retain Upper Covert 68K07/1 Accept Bellmans Covert 68R06 Accept Breach Wood 68S02/1 Accept Busgrove Wood (SE) 68W07/3 Defer Oakingham Bottom 68X05.1 Accept Bush Wood (part) 68X05.2 Defer Church Wood 69V04.1 Accept Nettlebed Common 78D03 Retain Kelart’s Field 49W02 Defer Bagley Wood 50B05 Retain Kennington Memorial Field 50F06 Retain
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 32 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council End of Year Report 2016-17
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BERKSHIRE SURVEYS
RB WINDSOR & MAIDENHEAD Site name Site code Panel decision Triangular Wood SU87T03 Defer Ascot Heath, Golf Course SU96J01 Retain The Wells SU96J07 Defer East Clewer SU97N01 Retain Eton Meadows SU97N06 Defer
WEST BERKSHIRE Site name Site code Panel decision Bungum Lane, Inkpen Geology Defer Field next to Great Common Road SU36S23 Accept Opposite Weston Chapel, Weston SU47B02 Retain Near Weston Ford SU47B03 Retain Field adjacent to Hopgarden Gully SU56M09 Accept Pondhouse Copse SU66T04 Defer Bradfield Plantation SU67B04 Retain Dog Kennel, Avenell’s & Highfield SU56H06 Retain Waterside Copse SU56H06 Retain
WOKINGHAM Site name Site code Panel decision Farley Hill Woods, Great Copse SU76M01 Retain Long Copse, Robin Hood Copse SU67M03 Retain Old Pond Copse and Moor SU77K03 Retain Bottom Boles Wood SU87E05 Retain Alder Moors pExt SU77R04 Reject Lea Farm SU77W04 Accept
Camilla Burrow, Director May 2017
P a g e | 33 TVERC is hosted by Oxfordshire County Council